Partial 'Ring of Fire' Solar Eclipse To Cross Illinois Skies Saturday

ILLINOIS — Get ready for the annular solar eclipse, also known as a “ring of fire” eclipse when the moon crosses the path of the sun on Saturday, Oct. 14. This is the first of two solar eclipses visible across North America, including Illinois, within a six-month period. A second solar eclipse will happen April 8, 2024.

The annular solar eclipse will be visible in all of the contiguous 48 states, with the path of full annularity approximately 110 miles wide across the western United States. Depending on where you live in the state and if it’s not too cloudy, Illinois residents will see a partial eclipse on Saturday with about 50 percent visibility, in which the sun will look like it has been bitten in half.

How To View 'Ring Of Fire' Eclipse Safely In Illinois

Skywatchers must always use proper solar viewing equipment. Regular sunglasses are NOT safe for viewing an eclipse, and could cause irreversible eye damage. Certified solar viewing glasses or viewers are the best way to protect your eyes so you can look up during an eclipse. If you still have eclipse shades left from 2017, it’s time for an update.

If you can’t get your hands on a solar viewer or pair of solar glasses, make a pinhole projector to see the eclipse. You can also view Saturday’s eclipse from the comfort of your own home live on YouTube.

There are three different types of solar eclipses, including partial, total and annular, according to Adler Planetarium, a solar eclipse occurs when the sun, moon and earth line up, and the moon, which is between the sun and earth. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon partly covers the sun, usually looking like a bite has been taken out of it. During a total solar eclipse, the moon totally covers the sun.

An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon appears a little smaller in the sky than the sun, so it cannot fully block the sun’s rays. During an annular eclipse, you’ll see a bright ring around the edges of the moon with the sun peeking out from behind it. The next "ring of fire" eclipse won’t happen again until 2046.

According to the Adler Planetarium’s Solar Eclipse viewing chart, the eclipse will begin in Illinois around 10:33 a.m. CT, with the moon's shadow increasing as it moves across the sun. The eclipse will reach its maximum point at 11:58 p.m., just over an hour later, before its conclusion around 1:23 p.m. Visit Adler Planetarium for more information about the upcoming eclipse.